As an aspiring structural engineer, you must begin your bridge building with some research.You will research and write a short one-page summary of what the four major types of bridges are.
Next, start brainstorming the type of bridge you feel is the most structurally stable for the competition. Create a T-chart on which you identify the strengths and weaknesses of each of the four bridge types.
Based on your analysis of the bridge types, select the one you will use for your bridge design. Using a rough sketch sheet, draw four thumbnail sketches of your design. Rough sketches are a very important part of any design. They are not intended to be perfect or a final design but just an idea. Remember they are just rough ideas and should be done individually!
Now that the sketches are done, your next step is to develop a final design. You will need to look at your four thumbnail sketches and decide which one you think is the best idea. When you choose the design you plan to use, you will need to draw that design on the final sketch sheet. This drawing should be completed with instruments and be to scale. Remember it is your final drawing and must be free of mistakes, eraser marks etc..
Finally, it is time to start constructing your bridge that STRICTLY adheres to the design that both you and your partner chose.
Your allotted materials are :
60 pieces of basswood
1 basswood cutter
Glue Gun
String
Rubber bands
* When you are finished constructing your bridge, you will hand it in with the final design drawing that you chose. Have fun, and good luck!
Your allotted materials are :
60 pieces of basswood
1 basswood cutter
Glue Gun
String
Rubber bands
* When you are finished constructing your bridge, you will hand it in with the final design drawing that you chose. Have fun, and good luck!